Automated caregiving device with prompting based on caregiver progress

Abstract

A device for assisting a caregiver in delivering therapy to a patient, the device comprising a user interface configured to deliver prompts to a caregiver to assist the caregiver in delivering therapy to a patient; at least one sensor configured to detect the caregiver's progress in delivering the therapy, wherein the sensor is other than an electrode in an electrical contact with the body; a memory in which a plurality of different prompts are stored; a processor configured to determine which of the different prompts should be selected for delivery based on the progress detected by the sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical device for assisting a caregiver in delivering therapy to a patient, the medical device comprising:
 a user input device configured to initiate a call to an emergency response center (ERC) in response to actuation of the user input device; 
 a user interface configured to provide a series of prompts, wherein the therapy comprises a series of steps in a protocol and wherein at least one of the series of prompts comprises an instruction for the caregiver to perform a step of calling the ERC by actuating the user input device; 
 one or more sensors configured to detect whether one or more steps in the series of steps of the protocol have been completed in response to the series of prompts, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a sensor other than a therapy electrode; 
 a memory in which the series of prompts is stored; and 
 a processor configured to:
 select at least one prompt in the series of prompts based at least in part on whether the one or more steps in the series of steps of the protocol has been performed, and 
 control the user interface to provide the selected at least one prompt as one or more of a visible prompt and an audible prompt. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The medical device of  claim 1  comprising visual indicators corresponding to one or more of at least one of the one or more steps in the series of steps of the protocol and at least one prompt in the series of prompts. 
     
     
       3. The medical device of  claim 2  wherein the visual indicators are configured to illuminate based at least in part on whether the one or more steps in the series of steps of the protocol has been performed. 
     
     
       4. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor other than the therapy electrode comprises a communications device configured to determine whether the step of calling the ERC has been performed by determining whether a communications connection between the medical device and the ERC has been established. 
     
     
       5. The medical device of  claim 4  wherein, subsequent to the determination that the step of calling the ERC has been performed, the processor is configured to select one or more of a prompt comprising an instruction for attaching an electrode assembly to the patient, a prompt comprising an instruction for positioning the electrode assembly on the chest of the patient, a prompt indicating that a defibrillator is analyzing a heart rhythm, a prompt advising the caregiver to stand clear of the patient, a prompt indicating that no shock is advised, a prompt indicating that a shock is advised, and a prompt comprising an instruction for the caregiver to press a shock button. 
     
     
       6. The medical device of  claim 4  wherein, subsequent to the determination that the step of calling the ERC has been performed, the processor is configured to select one or more prompts providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructions. 
     
     
       7. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the user input device comprises a button on the medical device and actuating the user input device comprises pressing the button on the medical device. 
     
     
       8. The medical device of  claim 7  wherein the button on the medical device comprises a telephone icon. 
     
     
       9. The medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the communications device comprises a wireless telephone. 
     
     
       10. The medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the communications device is configured to automatically establish the communications connection between the medical device and the ERC in response to the actuation of the user input device. 
     
     
       11. The medical device of  claim 4  comprising a global positioning system (GPS) configured to transmit a device location via the communications connection when the communications connection is established. 
     
     
       12. The medical device of  claim 4  wherein the medical device is configured to transmit a device status via the communications connection when the communications connection is established. 
     
     
       13. The medical device of  claim 4  wherein the communications connection between the medical device and the ERC is bi-directional. 
     
     
       14. The medical device of  claim 13  wherein the processor is configured to receive audible prompts from the ERC at the medical device via the communications connection and to control the user interface to provide the audible prompts from the ERC. 
     
     
       15. The medical device of  claim 14  wherein the processor is configured to disable automated prompts electronically generated at the medical device in response to receiving the audible prompts from the ERC. 
     
     
       16. The medical device of  claim 15  wherein the processor is configured to re-enable the automated prompts electronically generated at the medical device in response to a loss of the communications connection between the medical device and the ERC. 
     
     
       17. The medical device of  claim 16  wherein the processor is configured to control the user interface to provide a prompt indicative of the loss of the communications connection between the medical device and the ERC. 
     
     
       18. The medical device of  claim 16  wherein the processor is configured to control the user interface to provide a prompt indicating that the medical device will provide the automated prompts electronically generated at the medical device in place of the audible prompts from the ERC. 
     
     
       19. The medical device of  claim 16  wherein, in response to the loss of the communications connection between the medical device and the ERC, the processor is configured to store, in the memory, one or more of a device status and a patient status during a time period when the communications connection is unavailable and to send the stored one or more of the device status and the patient status to the ERC via the communications connection when the communications connection is re-established.